Armidale Playhouse Prompt - February 2003

You're a Good Man Charlie Brown

After the very positive response to the Armidale Playhouse’s first venture into children’s theatre we are following last year’s production of Midnite with Clark Gesher’s You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown.

Based on Charles M. Schulz’ very popular comic strip, this is a heart warming musical depicting a day in the life of Charlie Brown. The play features everyone’s favourite characters, including Charlie Brown, his sister Sally, Lucy and Linus Van Pelt, Schroeder, and of course, Snoopy and Woodstock. Charles M. Schulz explores the trials, tribulations and triumphs that fill the day of a 5 year old boy and his friends. Clark Gesner’s award winning music (this show won 7 Tony awards on Broadway) is fun and captures the spontaneity of youth.

Director Nadia Ozanne and Musical Director Anita Holgate-Brown have assembled a very talented and enthusiastic cast. The Armidale Playhouse is pleased to introduce Emily Thomas-Moore, Elizabeth & Anna McCrae as well as the familiar faces of Tim Wilkins (Men at Arms), Fergus Parker (Alice in Wonderland), Byron Spence (Chicago) and Ben Mettam (Les Misérables).

The Show starts on February 27th and plays 28th of February, and 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th, 13th, 14th and 15th of March. There are matinee performances at 2pm on Saturdays, 1st 8th and 15th. Thrifty Thursdays are available. Book early at Theatre Cats in the Mall (6771 2122) and enjoy these lovable characters as they laugh and sing their way through a day in the life of Charlie Brown. DON'T MISS IT!

Play Readings

We're planning a double play reading for Sunday 6 April, starting at 11am with a break for lunch between plays. The plays are The Wild Guys, a Canadian play about four guys going into the woods together each with a different agenda and expectations and Mother Said I Never Should which is about four generations of women and examines the relationships between mothers and daughters. It should be a fascinating and fun day. More info can be obtained from Jean Freer 6772 8831, Catherine Fenning 6772 8701 or Jim Harrop 6771 3238.

Chicago film night

We're also organising a fundraising film night for the opening of the film of Chicago on 20 February. After all we've got to see if it measures up to our standard! Tickets are $12 and can be obtained from Marney Tilley 6772 8685 or Catherine Fenning 6772 8701.

Future Productions

Our next confirmed production is The Laramie Project which Martin Mantle will direct around August. This should be a fascinating and challenging piece of theatre.

We would however like to slot another show in around May. One possibility is to put on a couple of one-act plays (or more if they're very short) done by different directors. Anyone who is interested or, better still, who has a proposal, should come along to the next playhouse meeting on 3 March.
We're also looking for proposals for a slot around October.

There is a possible proposal for a joint playhouse/musical society pantomime in November/December.

Wanted: Crew for Up the Creek

Barbara Albury is looking for a crew for her show Up the Creek which is being put on at the Playhouse (though not a Playhouse production) June 19 - July 6. Rehearsals begin in April. Up the Creek is a comedy drama about the battlers, the little people who made Australia: Goldminers, Chinese settlers, lone families in the bush, gutsy factory hands. It is dramatised story telling based on the stories of Mary Gilmore and Edward Dyson.

Barbara is looking for: assistant director, stage manager, assistant stage manager, lighting and sound operators, props assistant, musicians. Anyone interested should contact Barbara Albury 6772 9529 as soon as possible.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the committee to which everyone is welcome will be on Monday 3 March at the Playhouse at 7:30pm. Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month.